VICTORY: School Reverses Course After Illegally Banning Student-Led Jesus Club

In a major win for student religious liberty, the school district that delayed the approval of a Christian student club for being “too exclusive”– while approving a nearly identical secular club – has reversed course after the ACLJ intervened. This is exactly why we fight: No student should be punished for living out their faith on campus.

A Clear Constitutional Violation

Our client Kennedy, a courageous student leader in Plattsburgh, New York, wanted to spread the love of Jesus at her school. She did everything right. She gathered signatures. She secured a faculty sponsor. She submitted an application that met every requirement.

But the school denied her request to start a Jesus Club because it was “not inclusive enough.” Also, she was publicly berated about her club by a teacher in front of her entire class. That teacher has since been placed on administrative leave. Further, Kennedy and other club members were told by school administrators that they couldn’t name the club “Jesus Club.” Meanwhile, a secular club was approved without hesitation.

That is not merely unfair, it is unconstitutional. The law is unmistakably clear:

• Public schools cannot discriminate against religious speech;
• Religious student groups must be treated the same as any other student group; and
• Schools cannot impose special “inclusivity” rules only on religious organizations.

The school district had no legal ground to stand on. And after our legal team stepped in, the district knew it.

ACLJ Steps In – School Then Backs Down

The ACLJ immediately issued a detailed legal demand letter, outlining the school’s violations of the First Amendment and the Equal Access Act. The message was unmistakable: If the district continued to single out and suppress religious expression, we were prepared to take swift legal action.

Within days, the district acted on something they’d let stay stagnant for months. Kennedy’s Jesus Club has now been approved.

The Double Standard Exposed

What happened at this school is part of a broader pattern we see nationwide: Christian students are told they cannot meet, organize, or speak because someone claims their beliefs are not “inclusive” enough.

But the Constitution does not allow schools to redefine “inclusivity” as a weapon against faith.

The Jesus Club welcomed all students – just like the approved secular club. The school’s real issue was not inclusivity; it was hostility to the club’s religious identity.

The U.S. Supreme Court has repeatedly condemned this kind of viewpoint discrimination. And today, thanks to this victory, the school district has been reminded that it must follow the law.

Your Support Makes These Victories Possible

This is yet another example of why the ACLJ fights relentlessly for students’ rights across the country. When school officials overstep their authority, Christian students should not have to stand alone. We stand with them – and we win.

But these battles continue every day. As hostility toward faith-based groups grows, so does the need for strong, strategic legal intervention. Thanks to your support, we secured justice for Kennedy, restored her constitutional rights, and ensured that Christian students throughout the district can meet openly without interference.

We will never stop defending religious liberty – anywhere it is threatened. Take action with us to ensure we defeat the Left’s war against Christians.